Nnadiebube Journal of Philosophy

Abstract Epistemic identity is the way an agent, individual or a collection of individuals is (are) disposed towards knowing and holding beliefs about the nature of knowledge. What constitutes knowledge for an agent is determined by the epistemic paradigms that guide the agent’s acquisition and justification of what is real and what is not real. Researchers in African epistemology argue that there are indigenous ways of knowing, such as the testimony of elders, collective rationality, and sense experience. For them, these are genuine sources and justifications of knowledge, and they also form part and parcel of ‘African epistemic identity.’ They also argue that knowledge practice in Africa is grounded on African ontology, which explains the social and communitarian nature of African epistemology. To this end, this article explores the African epistemic identity, with particular attention on indigenous ways of knowing in African epistemology and collective agency. This article employs the expository, analytic, and dialectical methods to present an understanding of African epistemic identity through provision of useful insights on the social and communal character of African epistemology.

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